[6.6/10] So I’ll confess, I know almost nothing about the original Hawkman. I’m sure that the backstory of ancient Thanagarians stumbling upon Earth in time of Ancient Egypt, and him and Shayera being reincarnated versions of those figures after they were poisoned by an advisor is rooted in something from the original comics. But having not been socialized into that backstory, it seems pretty silly and not terribly compelling to me. (It doesn't help that Shayera herself laughs at it.)
It feels churlish to blame Justice League for that. It’s not meaningfully sillier than Diana coming from a hidden island of Greek gods or John getting a magic ring from a group of space police, but either way, the whole routine just didn’t click with me.
It doesn’t help that it’s also rooted in love triangle (quadrangle) material that I still don’t care for. I wish the show would just resolve things with John and Shayera already. The presence of Vixen as the Baxter, and now John as a new and transparent wedge to keep the show’s most prominent couple apart, the whole thing just feels forced and tired, especially when Shayera seems to only go out with this rando to make John jealous. I could really do without this high school drama crud.
What’s worse, Shayera seems like an absolute idiot in this one, which plays as out of character. Batman all but proves that John is a stalker, and Shayera not only decides to still go out with him (which I initially thought might just be a ploy to find out what he’s up to), but then she’s implied to have slept with him and developed feelings for him. It just seems like a really dumb mistake on her part, and you can maybe argue that she’s clouded by what’s happening with GL, but it still just feels off from the character we’ve known for four seasons already.
The only saving grace here is Batman. It’s fun to see him working his way through various traps in an ancient tomb, which feels like something out of an old B:TAS episode. The fight against the shadow man, and John’s protestations that he and Shayera are ancient lovers destined to be together, are pretty dull and uninvolving, especially when Shayera seems half-convinced at the end. But Batman’s role as a third wheel and no-nonsense ally here is at least a bright spot.
Overall, this is one of the weaker Justice League episodes in my book, but you might enjoy it more if you’re more on board with the love triangle shtick or have more affection for the original Hawkman.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-10-18T19:20:43Z
[6.6/10] So I’ll confess, I know almost nothing about the original Hawkman. I’m sure that the backstory of ancient Thanagarians stumbling upon Earth in time of Ancient Egypt, and him and Shayera being reincarnated versions of those figures after they were poisoned by an advisor is rooted in something from the original comics. But having not been socialized into that backstory, it seems pretty silly and not terribly compelling to me. (It doesn't help that Shayera herself laughs at it.)
It feels churlish to blame Justice League for that. It’s not meaningfully sillier than Diana coming from a hidden island of Greek gods or John getting a magic ring from a group of space police, but either way, the whole routine just didn’t click with me.
It doesn’t help that it’s also rooted in love triangle (quadrangle) material that I still don’t care for. I wish the show would just resolve things with John and Shayera already. The presence of Vixen as the Baxter, and now John as a new and transparent wedge to keep the show’s most prominent couple apart, the whole thing just feels forced and tired, especially when Shayera seems to only go out with this rando to make John jealous. I could really do without this high school drama crud.
What’s worse, Shayera seems like an absolute idiot in this one, which plays as out of character. Batman all but proves that John is a stalker, and Shayera not only decides to still go out with him (which I initially thought might just be a ploy to find out what he’s up to), but then she’s implied to have slept with him and developed feelings for him. It just seems like a really dumb mistake on her part, and you can maybe argue that she’s clouded by what’s happening with GL, but it still just feels off from the character we’ve known for four seasons already.
The only saving grace here is Batman. It’s fun to see him working his way through various traps in an ancient tomb, which feels like something out of an old B:TAS episode. The fight against the shadow man, and John’s protestations that he and Shayera are ancient lovers destined to be together, are pretty dull and uninvolving, especially when Shayera seems half-convinced at the end. But Batman’s role as a third wheel and no-nonsense ally here is at least a bright spot.
Overall, this is one of the weaker Justice League episodes in my book, but you might enjoy it more if you’re more on board with the love triangle shtick or have more affection for the original Hawkman.